Quote:
Originally Posted by manker
The reason for the altruism is simply because the US' foreign policy affects the rest of the world, because of its military and economic clout. If the US goes into recession, then it will affect the economic climate in my part of the world, so I might comment upon that, because it interests me.
'I just wish they didn't spend so much on the military'.
If the US President issues a statement which groups vast swathes of people as being part of an ungodly collective, I might discuss the folly of doing so because the repercussions might affect me in terms of the UK being an ally of the US.
'Was the axis-of-evil phrase really necessary'.
The UK, and other countries, doesn't have so much impact with its decisions, so this altruism doesn't exist amongst Americans.
As to the 'greatness' of the US. apart from it being a powerful economic and military force, I don't think it's so great. The 'must visit' places noted above don't register whatsover. I'm not put off travelling somewhere by any perceived danger as I go to the Middle East a couple of times a year, at least I did up until recently ... but the places in the US just aren't very interesting.
The US has basically no history or culture that it can call its own, so makes up for this with rampant commercialism.
I really don't see anything great about that.
Some of that probably makes sense as to why we in general don't pay much attention to the inner workings of rest of world.
Some people forget that America is a huge country (I think third largest:unsure: ) and is very diverse. The 'must visit' places above are American's 'must visit' places.
One thing also is that we are separated by water. Americans are more likely to vacation within the country, go to Mexico, Canada, or the Caribbean than cross the water. Many are content to stay on our side of the world. The ME is really on
your side of the world. I don't care to ever go there 'cause my vacations are mainly about having and relaxing and not necessarily visiting different cultures. I'll visit different cultures on my cruise in May.:P
We aren't even likely to go to Hawaii on a whim. To fucking expensive (I'm planning my honeymoon there, however). Timeshares FTW!
I think greatness comes from quality of your life where you reside. That is what you make of it. I can only judge how I'd live elsewhere compared to here. Visiting there doesn't cut it. The islands I'll going to (plus Mexico) seem like great places to visit but I think my quality of life if I live there would be
some shit.
Take for instance where I live now. I almost moved out in westbubblefuck Maryland but I like being able to get to the metropolitan area without driving an hour. I also like seclusion. I got lucky and got both. I'm in a secluded wooded area away enough from businesses, traffic, clumped crime, yet I can get to Downtown DC in 30 minutes, the subway in 15, Baltimore (another metro area) in 45, Virginia in 10, North Beach in 35, and so forth.
I think most are content with where they live. I know I don't see my quality of life being upgraded by moving to Europe. However, I'd probably never get an inkling of what that would be like. Tourist attractions don't count. I only can go on maybe the "numbers", how I hear and see others living, and how satisfied and ultra confortable I am here in comparison.:)
Oh and commercial feces are great in that it pays for shit or drive costs down. A fella can open a business and then 5 more will open to compete. A success story could be you. Many folks I know have made money (besides drug selling :dry:) from a small business at one time or another. I remember Karl Kani selling clothes out of the trunk of his car before seeing them in stores. I had a full-fledged studio where I used to make $400 a week without blinking and I was still in high school with a normal job. The real success stories are the ones that keeping going, stay motivated, and don't get sidetracked.
